I recently watched the movie F1 starring Brad Pitt. While it’s a story about Formula 1 racing on the surface, at its heart, it asks a deeper question: Why do you do what you do? What truly drives you to get up every morning and go to work?
For the character Sonny Hayes, there’s no doubt — he races for the sheer love of it. He lives for the exhilarating freedom of being on the track, in the flow, completely untouchable. Meanwhile, his young teammate, JP, started out the same way — he fell in love with racing as a kid. But as he grew older and more successful, his motivation shifted. Racing became more about money, fame, and attention. As a result, his career began to spiral.
It’s only when JP reconnects with Sonny and starts to remember why he fell in love with racing in the first place — for the pure joy of it, and for the connection with his team — that he finds real fulfillment again.
This message hit close to home for me as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. I still remember shadowing an oral surgeon as a high school student and thinking it was the greatest thing I had ever seen. During dental school and residency, each new procedure felt like discovering a new superpower. I loved the problem-solving aspect, the social connections, the chance to help people heal, get out of pain, or restore their function.
But as the years went on, I noticed something creeping in. Financial concerns, productivity pressures, and the bottom line started taking up more mental space. I’ve seen many dentists, surgeons, and professionals in all fields go through this. The original motivation to help and to create gets replaced by a focus on earning, and once that shift happens, something vital is lost.
Work that used to feel like a calling can start to feel like a grind. We start watching the clock instead of truly seeing our clients, patients, or projects. We focus more on the paycheck than the people. The spark that used to light us up starts to fade. And ironically, when that happens, our performance often suffers too — along with our fulfillment.
So how do we get back to that original passion?
Just like JP in the movie found new inspiration through his team, we too can change our environment. For me, this meant dedicating one day a week to teaching oral surgery residents and students. Their excitement and curiosity reminded me why I fell in love with this work in the first place.
Another strategy is to slow down and focus deeply on each patient or client — from the first conversation, to the work itself, to the follow-up call afterward. When we give our full attention and care, it rekindles the meaning behind what we do.
Volunteering is another powerful way to reconnect. Free clinics, community service days, mission trips — these settings remove money from the equation entirely. Instead of thinking about what we’re earning, we focus on the difference we’re making. During a recent volunteer day, several of my surgical assistants shared how rewarding it felt to help patients who had no resources and were in desperate need. That feeling of pure service can be transformative.
Recently, I noticed a renewed enthusiasm in my team when I assigned a member of the team to plan social events for us to connect with each other outside of work, as well as inside of work. These scheduled events allowed us to talk about what we love about the work and how we can keep the passion as a team and provide excellent patient care. This boosted morale and functioned as a renewed energy that charged my mental batteries and joy for the work.
Reflection points:
- What is your true motivation for doing what you do each day?
- Has your motivation shifted over time?
- Are you less excited to start your workday than you used to be? Are you more focused on the end of the day than the beginning?
Action points:
- List three ways you can reignite your original passion for your work.
- If money has become the main motivator, consider dedicating a day to serving those who can’t pay — and focus on the lives you’re changing.
- If your team’s energy feels stagnant, look for ways to inspire them — or surround yourself with people who share your original enthusiasm.
Remember: when we work from a place of genuine love and purpose, not only do we perform better — we live better. Let’s get back to what first made us fall in love with our work.